Organizing an essay the basics 2. Cause and effect essay (shorter version) 3. Compare/contrast essay (shorter version) 4

Transcription

1 Organizing an essay the basics 2 Cause and effect essay (shorter version) 3 Compare/contrast essay (shorter version) 4 Exemplification (one version) 5 Argumentation (shorter version) 6-7

2 Support Go from the general to the specific. Introduction Start out broad. Use something that will catch the reader s attention. Thesis Statement This is the last sentence of the intro. It should state what the paper will discuss. Topic Sentence Body Paragraph One Each one of the body paragraphs should support the thesis by presenting evidence for it. Topic Sentence Body Paragraph Two Topic Sentences introduce the evidence that will be presented in each body paragraph Topic Sentence Body Paragraph Three Go from the specific to the general. Thesis Statement Conclusion This is the first sentence of the intro. It should restate your thesis. End broad. End with a general statement, suggestion, or other thing that will make the reader continue to think about your paper.

3 Cause and Effect The following are things to keep in mind when writing a cause-and-effect essay Cause-and-effect essays examine causes, describe effects, or do both. Causes precede effects, but do not assume that because event A precedes event B, event A has caused event B. Many causes can be responsible for one effect. In the same way, one cause can lead to many effects. Complex situations involve numerous causes and many different effects. The main cause is always more important than the others, the contributory causes. An immediate cause closely precedes an effect. A remote cause is less obvious and involves something in the past or far away. Sometimes an effect can also be a cause. This is true in a causal chain, where A causes B, B causes C, C causes D, and so on. Identify the relationship among the specific causes or effects you will discuss. This thesis statement should tell your readers three things: the issues you plan to consider, the position you will take, and whether your emphasis is on causes, effects, or both. Arranging causes and effects There are several options when deciding on the sequence in which you will present causes or effects: - Present causes or effects in chronologically order; - Introduce main cause first and then contributory causes or vice versa; - Stress positive consequences by summarizing the negative ones first or vice versa; - Begin by dismissing any events that were not causes and then explain what the real causes were; or - Begin with most obvious causes or effect and move on to more subtle factors and then to your analysis and conclusion. are very important to cause-and-effect essays. Remember that words such as because, therefore, and consequently indicate a causal relationship (WHY something happened) while words such as then, next, subsequently, later, and afterward indicate a chronological relationship (WHEN something happened). Do not confuse these. (Kirszner and Mandell )

4 Compare/Contrast The following are things to keep in mind when writing a compare/contrast essay Comparison is used to show similarities, while contrast shows differences. A compare/contrast essay is used to make sense of large amounts of information, to weight the benefits and drawbacks of different options, to formulate an opinion of a topic to which there are two sides, and to evaluate the truth of conflicting views. In order to write a meaningful compare/contrast essay, a basis for comparison must exist; that is, for the comparison and/or contrast to be justified, the things being compared must have enough in common. NOTE: make sure that the elements are the same (or at least similar) for each category. RIGHT WRONG NOVEL A NOVEL B NOVEL A NOVEL B Minor characters Minor Characters Minor Characters Author s life Major characters Major Characters Major Characters Plot Themes Themes Themes Symbolism Your thesis statement should identify the subjects to be compared and contrasted as well as the point you will make about them. It should also indicate whether you will concentrate on similarities, differences, or both. Structuring a compare/contrast essay Subject-by-subject: you essentially write a separate essay for each subject, but you discuss the same points for both subjects. Arrange points in a logical order such as by increasing significance. This strategy is most appropriate for short, uncomplicated papers. Point-by-point: you make a point about one subject and then follow it with a comparable point about the other. This strategy is useful for longer, more complicated essays in which you discuss many different points. NOTE: in order to avoid falling into a monotonous, back-and-forth movement between points, vary your sentence structure as you move from point to point and use clear transitions. supply readers with clear signals and identify individual similarities and differences. Use in comparison, in the same way, just as so, like, likewise, similarly when comparing. Use although, but, conversely, despite, even though, however, in contrast, instead, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, on the one hand on the other hand, still, unlike, whereas, yet when contrasting.

5 Exemplification The following are things to keep in mind when writing an exemplification essay Exemplification uses one or more particular cases, or examples, to illustrate or explain a general point or an abstract concept. Sweeping generalizations and vague statements are not nearly as effective as specific observations, anecdotes, details, and opinions. Use examples to explain, clarify, add interest, and persuade. How many examples is enough to support your thesis will depend on your thesis and your purpose. Choose a sufficient range of examples. The thesis statement of an exemplification essay makes a point that the rest of the essay will support with examples. This statement usually identifies your topic as well as the main point you want to make about it. NOTE: before formulating a thesis, think of the examples you will present in support for it; that way, you will be able to test your ideas and their validity as well as understand the opposing viewpoints. Structuring an argumentative essay Exemplification essays usually begin with an introduction that includes the thesis statement, which is supported by examples in the body of the essay. Each body paragraph may develop a separate example, present a point illustrated by several brief examples, or explore one aspect of a single extended example that is developed throughout the essay. The conclusion reinforces the essay s main idea. When deciding how to structure the body of an essay, keep in mind that there are various ways in which to do it. Examples may be grouped according to content (each paragraph dedicated to a group of examples with the same content). Examples may also be developed fully in separate paragraphs. Examples may be arranged chronologically, in order of increasing complexity (beginning with the simplest and moving to the most difficult or complex), or in order of importance (beginning with those that are less significant and moving to those that are most significant or persuasive). Be sure to use transitional words and phrases to introduce your examples. Without them, readers will have difficulty seeing the connection between an example and the general statement it is illustrating. Some helpful transitions for an exemplification essay are another, for instance, for example, in fact, namely, specifically, that is, and thus. (Kirszner and Mandell )

6 Argumentation The following are things to keep in mind when writing an argumentative essay Argumentation is a process of reasoning that asserts the soundness of a debatable position, belief, or conclusion. Argumentation takes a stand supported by evidence and urges people to share the writer s perspective and insights. Although an argumentation is generally based on appeals to logic, a writer may also use appeals based on emotion and/or the reputation of the writer in order to persuade readers. NOTE: Whatever appeal you decide to use, make sure it is a fair one. When choosing a topic, chose a topic in which you are emotionally or intellectually invested but also open minded about. Make sure you chose an issue narrow enough to discuss in the space available to you. If the issue involves too many aspects, be willing to confine your discussion to one aspect of a broader issue. All of your points must be supported by evidence. Make sure your evidence is relevant (it supports your thesis and is pertinent to your argument), representative (it represents the full range of opinions about your subject, not just one side), and sufficient (it includes enough facts, opinions, and examples to support your claims). NOTE: make sure that your evidence is properly documented (cited). In an argumentative essay, your thesis must take a stand, meaning that it must be debatable. A good argumentative thesis states a proposition to which at least some people will object. It is pointless to argue a statement of fact or an idea that most people accept as self-evident. Structuring an argumentative essay There are multiple ways of structuring an argumentative essay. Generally speaking, make sure that you have a clear thesis statement; make sure that throughout your body paragraphs you support your thesis by presenting evidence; and make sure you address possible counter arguments (at least the more important ones). Argumentative essays use transitions to signal a shift in focus. Use first, second, third, in addition, and finally to present specific points in support of your argument. Use still, nevertheless, however and yet to refute opposing arguments. Use therefore, and for these reasons when presenting your argument s conclusion. Here are some useful transitions for argumentation: all in all, as a result, finally, first, second, third, for example, for instance, for these reasons, however, in addition, in brief, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, nevertheless, on the one hand on the other hand, still, therefore, thus, yet.

7 Recognizing and avoiding fallacies Fallacies are illogical statements that may sound reasonable or true, but are actually deceptive and dishonest. The following fallacies are some of the most common ones. Not all common fallacies are included in this list. Jumping to a Conclusion: This fallacy occurs when a conclusion is reached on the basis of too little evidence. Appeal to Doubtful Authority: This fallacy occurs when people attempt to strengthen an argument with references to experts or famous people who have no expertise on the issue. Misleading Statistics: This fallacy occurs when statistics are misrepresented or distorted in an attempt to influence an audience. (Kirszner and Mandell )